Lighter with childproof windshield

ABSTRACT

A childproof windshield for a disposable lighter, includes a U-shaped surrounding wall mounting on two supporting walls of the disposable lighter respectively, and a pair of safety shells for coaxially positioning with a striker wheel and facing two outer sides of two driving wheels of the striker wheel respectively. The safety shells are respectively extended integrally from the two sides of the U-shaped surrounding wall upwardly and rearwardly. Thereby, the safety shells form a physical barrier to prevent a thumb of a user from fully engaging the striker wheel. A slant ceiling surface of the childproof windshield is downwardly inclined from the two safety shells towards a front end of the childproof windshield adapted for increasing a striking route of the thumb of the user against the pair of safety shells and the driving wheels.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a lighter, and more particularly to alighter with childproof windshield, wherein a relatively large pressureby an adult's finger is needed to be exerted on the striker wheel toactuate the lighter, so that the lighter with childproof windshield isprevented from being ignited accidentally or by children.

2. Description of Related Arts

The conventional striker wheel disposable lighter is simple instructure, low cost and easy to operate. The striker wheel is adaptedfor being rotated by finger to generate a spark for ignition.Conventionally, the striker wheel extending outwardly from the casing,so that the striker wheel can be easily touched and being rotated.However, such disposable lighters are dangerous if they are handledcarelessly, especially by children. The inadvertent ignition of suchdisposable lighters may result in fires causing property damage andinjury to people.

Therefore, there is a need for a safety device that prevents inadvertentignition of disposable lighter, or makes the lighters difficult forchildren to operate. Disposable lighters are now required by federal lawto contain ignition safe device in order to prevent children fromigniting the lighters.

Many types of childproof disposable lighter have been developed later.Most childproof disposable lighters have a built-in lock mechanism whichprevents depression of the actuating lever, and the lock mush bereleased to allow the actuating lever to be depressed. Generally, allconventional childproof disposable lighters require additional elementsto be incorporated into the striker wheel to increase the difficulty torotate the striker wheel or the gas lever to control the supply of gas,so as to avoid children to use the lighter. However, the cost of thechildproof disposable lighter goes up due to the complex safetystructure, and it is very difficult for the high cost disposable lighterto be successful in the market.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a lighter withchildproof windshield, wherein a relatively large pressure by an adult'sfinger is needed to be exerted on the striker wheel to actuate thelighter, so that the lighter with childproof windshield is preventedfrom being ignited accidentally or by children.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a childproofwindshield which is adapted to be installed to all kinds of disposablelighter.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a childproofwindshield for a disposable lighter which requires a simplesingle-action operation by an adult's thumb instead of the conventionaldouble-action operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lighter withchildproof windshield, wherein the safety shells of the windshield coverthe two driving wheels of the striker wheel and are slightly higher thanthe driving wheels respectively, so that a relatively large pressure isneeded to rotate the striker wheel.

Another object of the present invention the striking route against thepair of safety shells and driving wheels by the user's thumb isincreased to enhance the ignition action of the adult user byconstructing a slant ceiling surface of the windshield to be downwardlyinclined towards its front end while preventing the children from usingthe lighter without adult's supervision.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a safetywindshield for childproof disposable lighter, which does not requiredadditional element and to alter the original structural design of thedisposable lighter, so as to minimize the manufacturing cost ofincorporating the safety device with every conventional disposablelighter having a conventional striker wheel.

Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the presentinvention provides a childproof windshield for a disposable lighter,comprising:

a U-shaped surrounding wall having two sides for mounting on twosupporting walls of the disposable lighter respectively so as toposition on a ceiling of the supporting frame; and

a pair of safety shells for coaxially positioning with a striker wheeland facing two outer sides of two driving wheels of the striker wheelrespectively, the safety shells being respectively extended integrallyfrom the two sides of the U-shaped surrounding wall upwardly andrearwardly, wherein each of the safety shells is in circular shapehaving an outer smooth surface and a radius slightly larger than that ofthe driving wheels so as to encircle the outer sides of the two drivingwheels for, thereby, forming a physical barrier to prevent a thumb of auser from fully engaging the striker wheel, wherein a slant ceilingsurface of the childproof windshield is downwardly inclined from the twosafety shells towards a front end of the windshield adapted forincreasing a striking route of the thumb of the user against the pair ofsafety shells and the driving wheels.

These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following detailed description,the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lighter with a childproof windshieldaccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the lighter with a childproof windshieldaccording to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the lighter with a childproofwindshield according to the above preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the lighter with a childproof windshieldaccording to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is another alternative mode of the lighter with a childproofwindshield according to the above preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of the above alternative mode of thelighter with a childproof windshield according to the above preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the above alternative mode of thelighter with a childproof windshield according to the above preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a conventional disposable lighter illustratinghow the user's thumb in operation with the striker wheel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1 through FIG. 4 of the drawings, a disposable lighterwith childproof windshield according to a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention is illustrated, in which the disposable lightercomprises a lighter body 1, ignition unit 2, gas emitting unit 3 and achildproof windshield 4.

The lighter body 1 comprises a casing 11 defining a liquefied gaschamber therein for containing a predetermined volume of liquefied gas,and a supporting frame 12 mounted on the casing. The supporting frame 12is sealedly mounted on the casing 11 to prevent gas leakage from theconnection line.

The gas emitting unit 3 comprises a gas emitting nozzle 32 mounted onthe supporting frame 12 to communicate with the liquefied gas chamberfor emitting gas from the liquefied gas chamber in a controlled manner.The gas emitting unit 3 further comprises a gas adjusting element 31 foradjusting the amount of the releasing gas from the liquefied gaschamber.

The ignition unit 2 supported by the supporting frame 12 for ignitingthe gas from said gas emitting nozzle 32 comprises a flint 22 and astriker wheel 21 mounted on the flint 22 for being rotated to generatespark. The striker wheel 21 has two driving wheels 211, 212 provided attwo sides thereof. The ignition unit 2 further comprises a resilientelement 22 mounted under the flint 22 for supporting the flint 22. Thesupporting frame 12 has a gas valve cavity 124 for receiving the gasemitting nozzle 32, and has a flint housing 123 for receiving theresilient element 22 and the flint 22.

Furthermore, the supporting frame 12 further comprises two supportingwalls 121 upwardly extended and spacedly apart, wherein each supportingwall 121 has a supporting hole 122 provided thereon for receiving a pinof the striker wheel 21 so as to rotatably mounted the striker wheel 21and its driving wheels 211, 212 between the two supporting walls 121.

The gas emitting unit 3 further comprises a gas emitting lever 33 havinga releasing end engaged with the gas emitting nozzle 32 and a pressingend disposed under the striker wheel 21, so that when the pressing endis pressed, the gas is released from the gas emitting nozzle 32. Thesupporting frame 12 has a level cavity 125 for receiving the pressingend of the gas emitting lever 33. The operating step of the lighter isthat rotate the striker wheel to generate spark and press the gasemitting lever 33 to release gas to produce flame.

The childproof windshield 4 has a U-shaped surrounding wall 42 mountedon the supporting frame 12, wherein the U-shaped surrounding wall 42 hasan side opening forming two safety shells 43 at both sides of theopening to cover the two supporting walls 121. In other words, thestriker wheel 21 is disposed between the two safety shells 43. The twosafety shells 43 are upwardly and rearwardly extended from the U-shapedsurrounding wall 42 and facing the outer sides of the two driving wheels211, 212 of the striker wheel 21 respectively. Each of the safety shells43 is in circular shape having a radius slightly larger than that of therespective driving wheels 211, 212 so as to encircle the outer sides ofthe driving wheels 211, 212 to form a physical barrier to prevent theuser's thumb from fully engaging the striker wheel 21. The radius of thesafety shell 43 is at least equal to or slightly larger than the radiusof the driving wheels 211, 212. For example, the difference between tworadiuses can be 0.1 mm.

The surfaces of the safety shells 43 are smooth. Since the children havealready known to rotate the striker wheel 21 of the lighter along afloor or other surface for striking amusing sparks and possibly flames,the smooth surfaces of the safety shells 43 will serve to inhibit thegeneration of sparks and flames when the lighter is abused by childrenin such a manner. Moreover, for insufficient force, even adult's thumbwill slip off the safety shells 43 without causing the rotation of thestriker wheel 21 and operation of the lighter, so as to preventunintentional ignition.

According to the present invention, the childproof windshield 4 has aslant ceiling surface 44 which is downwardly inclined from the safetyshells 43 towards a front end thereof so as to increase a striking routeof the user's thumb against the safety shells 43 and the driving wheels211, 212.

As shown in FIG. 8, a conventional disposable lighter is shown whereinthe user's thumb has to initially rest and press on top of the strikerwheel for rotating towards the gas lever to ignite the lighter. Sincethe horizontal flat ceiling surface of the windshield of the lightersubstantially blocks the movement of the thumb, the rotation angle ofthe thumb with respect to the striker wheel is merely about 45°.

In view of the present invention, in order to ignite the disposablelighter, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, an adult's thumb can be inclinedlyrested on the slant ceiling surface 44 with a side portion thereofstarting to press against striker wheel 21, wherein rotation angle ofthumb with respect to the striker wheel is more than 45° and may up to90° and thus increasing the striking route of the striker wheel 21 tofacilitate ignition of the present invention for adult. When sufficientpressure of the thumb is applied on the striker wheel 21, the thumb'ssurface is deformed to past the safety shells 43 to frictionally engagethe striker wheel 21 including the driving wheels 211, 212 therebyrotating the striker wheel 21. At the mean time, a spark is generated bythe rotating striker wheel 21 and the depressible rear end of the gaslever 33 will then pushed downward for emitting gas.

Referring to FIG. 5 through FIG. 7 of the drawings, an alternative modeof the present invention is illustrated, wherein the two safety shellsare alternatively constructed at the supporting frame 12″. The safetyshells 43″ which are coaxially to the striker wheel 21″ are upwardlyprotruded from the two supporting walls 121″ and encircled the outersides of the striker wheel 21″ respectively. The radius of the safetyshells 43″ is the same as or slightly larger than the radius of thestriker wheel 21″.

Similarly, each of the supporting walls 121″ has a supporting hole 122″provided thereon for receiving pin of the striker wheel 21″, so that thestriker wheel 21″ can coaxially rotate around the pins. The twosupporting walls 121″ extend outwardly along the both sides of thestriker wheel 21. The surfaces of the safety shells 43″ are smooth.Since the children have already known to rotate the striker wheel 21″ ofthe lighter along a floor or other surface for striking amusing sparksand possibly flames, the smooth surfaces of the safety shells 43″ willserve to inhibit the generation of sparks and flames when the lighter isabused by children in such a manner. Moreover, for insufficient force,even adult's thumb will slip off the safety shells 43″ without causingthe rotation of the striker wheel 21″ and operation of the lighter, soas to prevent unintentional ignition.

The childproof windshield 4″ also has a U-shaped surrounding wall 42″mounted on the supporting frame 12, wherein the childproof windshield 4″has a slant ceiling surface 44″ which is downwardly inclined from thesafety shells 43″ towards a front end thereof so as to increase astriking route of the user's thumb against the safety shells 43 and thedriving wheels 211″, 212″.

One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of thepresent invention as shown in the drawings and described above isexemplary only and not intended to be limiting.

It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have beenfully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have been shown anddescribed for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structuralprinciples of the present invention and is subject to change withoutdeparture from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes allmodifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the followingclaims.

1. A childproof windshield for a disposable lighter, comprising: a U-shaped surrounding wall having two sides for mounting on two supporting wall of the disposable lighter respectively; and a pair of safety shells for coaxially positioning with a striker wheel and facing two outer sides of two driving wheels of the striker wheel respectively, said safety shells being respectively extended integrally from said two sides of said U-shaped surrounding wall upwardly and rearwardly, wherein each of said safety shells is in circular shape having an outer smooth surface and a radius at least equal to that of the driving wheels so as to encircle the outer sides of the two driving wheels for, thereby, forming a physical barrier for preventing a thumb of a user from fully engaging the striker wheel, wherein a slant ceiling surface of said childproof windshield is downwardly inclined from said two safety shells towards a front end of said childproof windshield adapted for increasing a striking route of the thumb of the user against said pair of safety shells and the driving wheels.
 2. The childproof windshield, as recited in claim 1, wherein said radius of said safety shells is slightly larger than that of said driving wheels.
 3. A disposable lighter, comprising: a lighter body comprising a casing defining a liquefied gas chamber for containing a predetermined volume of liquefied gas therein; a supporting frame mounted on said casing; a gas emitting unit comprising a gas emitting nozzle mounted on said supporting frame to communicate with said liquefied gas chamber for emitting gas from said liquefied gas chamber in a controlled manner; an ignition unit supported by said supporting frame for ignition gas from said gas emitting nozzle comprising a flint and a striker wheel, having two driving wheels, mounted above said flint for being rotated to strike against said flint to generate spark; and a childproof windshield, comprising: a U-shaped surrounding wall having two sides for mounting on said two supporting walls of said disposable lighter respectively; and a pair of safety shells for coaxially positioning with said striker wheel and facing two outer sides of two driving wheels of the striker wheel respectively, said safety shells being respectively extended integrally from said two sides of said U-shaped surrounding wall upwardly and rearwardly, wherein each of said safety shells is in circular shape having an outer smooth surface and a radius at least equal to that of said driving wheels so as to encircle outer sides of said two driving wheels for, thereby, forming a physical barrier for preventing a thumb of a user from fully engaging said striker wheel, wherein a slant ceiling surface of said childproof windshield is downwardly inclined from said two safety shells towards a front end of said childproof windshield adapted for increasing a striking route of the thumb of the user against said pair of safety shells and said driving wheels.
 4. The disposable lighter, as recited in claim 3, wherein said radius of said safety shells is slightly larger than that of said driving wheels so as to encircle outer sides of said two driving wheels.
 5. A disposable lighter, comprising: a lighter body comprising a casing defining a liquefied gas chamber for containing a predetermined volume of liquefied gas therein; a supporting frame, mounted on said casing, comprising two supporting walls and two safety shells upwardly protruded from said two supporting walls, wherein each of said safety shells is in circular shape having an outer smooth surface; a gas emitting unit comprising a gas emitting nozzle mounted on said supporting frame to communicate with said liquefied gas chamber for emitting gas from said liquefied gas chamber in a controlled manner; an ignition unit supported by said supporting frame for ignition gas from said gas emitting nozzle comprising a flint and a striker wheel, having two driving wheels, mounted above said flint for being rotated to strike against said flint to generate spark, wherein said safety shells are coaxially to said striker wheel and a radius of said safety shells is at least equal to a radius of said driving wheels to encircle outer sides of said driving wheels of said striker wheel respectively; and a windshield comprising a U-shaped surrounding wall having two sides for mounting on said two supporting walls of said disposable lighter respectively, wherein a slant ceiling surface of said windshield is downwardly inclined towards a front end of said windshield adapted for increasing a striking route of the thumb of the user against said pair of safety shells and said driving wheels.
 6. The disposable lighter, as recited in claim 3, wherein said radius of said safety shells is slightly larger than that of said driving wheels so as to encircle outer sides of said two driving wheels. 